Seven solar parks coming to Neom? KSA’s Neom has appointed French engineering services group Assystem to conduct several pre-development studies for seven planned solar parks in Tabuk and Duba, a statement by the French company read last week. The planned parks could have the potential to generate over 20 GW in solar energy capacity, the statement said. Under the agreement, Assystem will conduct a site assessment study, preliminary design of parks and master planning, and environmental and social impact assessment study among other studies.

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Egypt updates climate goals in efforts to speed up renewables rollout: The Egyptian government has updated climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — which sets the country’s climate and emissions targets — to increase its renewables share to 42% by 2030 instead of 2035, according to a statement published last week. The government also upgraded its emissions slashing goal from 70 mn tons to 80 mn tons by 2030. Egypt intends to meet this target by replacing 12 gas-powered thermal power stations — with a capacity of 5 GW — with wind and solar projects worth 10 GW by the deadline, according to a separate statement. Egypt has signed four financial closure agreements for 3.7 GW out of the 10 GW target since November.

The move is a milestone to unlock funding for the government’s Nexus for Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) program, International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat said.

ALSO- More funding on the way for Egypt’s food security: Egypt is receiving a USD 431 mn grant from the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) to support the country’s efforts in building a more resilient, sustainable, and climate-adaptive food systems for targeted groups by 2028, WFP Country Director and Representative of Egypt Praveen Agrawal tweeted on Sunday. The grant is part of Egypt's 2023-2028 Country Strategic Plan (pdf) which was approved during the WFP’s four-day annual executive board session in Italy last week.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Algeria’s Energy and Mining Minister Mohamed Arkab met with the President of the African Energy Chamber NJ Ayuk last week to discuss renewables-focused partnership opportunities with African countries. (Statement)
• US-headquartered Verde Hydrogen has signed an agreement to develop and commission a 2 MW green hydrogen electrolyzer project in Morocco. (Statement)
• UAE EV startup Terra Tech has completed the development of its first fleet of electric motorbikes. The bikes will undergo final testing while the company shifts towards finalizing agreements with partners in the UAE’s last-mile sector. (Trade Arabia)